Michael Davis, Chief Executive, UK Commission for Employment and Skills
Years ago, I asked a friend of mine, who happens to be a talented engineer, when his interest in science and technology developed. He thought about it for a while, then replied: "I don't know. When did yours stop?"
He's right, of course. As children, we are all fascinated by how things work. Only later in life does our enthusiasm get drummed out of us.
Yet now, more than ever before, we need scientists, mathematicians, technologists and engineers. If we are to compete internationally and have a prosperous and just society, we need to keep young people interested in these subjects.
The competitiveness, productivity and prosperity of our country depends on having enough STEM skills to go around. These skills are used in many sectors, from aerospace and nuclear through biomedical and healthcare to digital and creative. All are drivers of productivity and innovation, contributing directly to the country's growth and global competitiveness and to our individual prosperity.
The problem we have today is twofold. Too many students are dropping STEM subjects at school and college, turned off by stereotypes of geeks, or thoughts that "science is for boys". But even when young people do take STEM subjects at college or university, they frequently end up in non-STEM jobs. The City of London is one of the country's largest employers of STEM graduates.
Faced with this dual challenge, I believe the best way of inspiring young people and bringing STEM careers to life is to offer experience of the world of work. Meeting STEM professionals within classrooms and STEM Clubs, can show them jobs they have never thought of and help inform career decisions.
I believe we should move away from the idea of work experience being two weeks in June towards an embedded concept of "work inspiration" where young people are given the chance – throughout the year – to be inspired by employers. This is where STEMNET comes in.
STEMNET sends over 26,000 STEM Ambassadors into schools, helps teachers set up STEM Clubs and links business and education through its Advisory Network. A striking example of how well this is working is the fact that whilst 55% of children say they enjoy science, this rises to 80% for those who are in a STEM Club.
To stay ahead of the curve and make sure we are equipped for whatever the future might bring, we need more of this. More businesses getting involved in inspiring young people, more schools and colleges delivering these subjects in fresh and innovative ways, and ultimately more young people going for a STEM career and helping our country to prosper.
Educating and inspiring future scientists, engineers and mathematicians is of vital importance to the future of progress and innovation, and it will also play a key role in supporting the UK economy. However, there is currently a deficit in the number of young people choosing to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers; nearly two in five firms (39%) that need employees with STEM skills and knowledge currently have difficulties recruiting staff (CBI). Research from the Royal Academy of Engineering suggests that the UK needs to increase the number of STEM graduates by as much as 50% if it is to remain globally competitive.
STEMNET is an independent educational charity funded by government and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, set up to inspire young people in STEM subjects. We do this through our STEM Ambassadors programme, bringing volunteers working in STEM sectors in to the classroom to stimulate young minds and enthuse them about; our STEM clubs, which support teachers in taking pupils beyond the curriculum; and our Schools STEM Advisory Network, providing schools with the help they need to deliver exciting STEM lessons and enrichment projects.
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Volunteers who offer their time and support free of charge to inspire young people to follow STEM subjects and careers. STEMNET connects enthusiastic STEM Ambassadors with local schools, providing an invaluable and free resource for teachers to help them deliver the STEM curriculum in fresh and innovative ways.
STEM Clubs encourage children to explore, investigate and discover STEM subjects using a hands-on approach to create a stimulating learning environment, away from the constraints of the school timetable or a prescribed curriculum. STEMNET offers teachers advice and guidance to help establish or develop a STEM Club.
STEMNET manages a UK-wide network of organisations (Contract Holders) to offer impartial advice and guidance to teachers and schools. The aim of the service is for all schools and colleges to be able to offer students programmes which support the curriculum and increase the quality and quantity of students moving into further STEM education, training and development.
An independent evaluation of STEMNET's programmes by the National Foundation for Educational Research has shown that they really work. Pupils participating in STEM Clubs or interacting with STEM Ambassadors perceive that their attainment in STEM subjects increases and their enthusiasm for STEM careers rises, while teachers find the support they receive invaluable and reported that links with STEMNET had enhanced their understanding of real world applications of STEM subjects in teaching.
Download more information from the report.
ARKive @ARKive: We love #STEM as @AmbassadorsGS help us to inspire future biologists & develop our free teaching resources.
Centre of the Cell @CentreoftheCell: #STEMAmbassadors support our shows with knowledge and careers info. They're an inspirational example of real science
The NFER report shows that involvement in STEM activities impacts very positively in relation to pupils' attitudes and achievements in STEM subjects. Teachers said the top impacts on pupils were:
Increased awareness of the importance of STEM subjects and real world applications
Since taking part in STEMNET programmes, pupils know more about why STEM subjects are important for everyday life and their relevance to exciting careers.
Understanding the opportunities to work in ‘exciting' jobs motivates pupils to work hard in relevant subjects and ensure they choose an appropriate course of post-16 study. Indeed, pupils reported to the NFER that they feel they know enough about jobs in STEM to make good decisions and know where to get more information on STEM jobs.
Increased knowledge and understanding of STEM concepts or topics which can lead to improved achievement
Pupils have increased enthusiasm for STEM subjects as a result of their involvement in STEM Clubs, interacting with STEM Ambassadors and other STEM enrichment sessions. They appreciate having time dedicated to exploring the fun side of STEM and sharing their interest with others.
Nine out of ten teachers said that participating in STEM Clubs had increased pupils' knowledge and understanding of STEM concepts or topics. Participation in STEMNET's programmes can engage students of all abilities or focus on specific groups to stretch gifted pupils.
One school used STEMNET's programmes to continue its Gifted and Talented programme after its own funding had come to an end (NFER).
Science Grrl @Science_Grrl "Engaging with kids as a @STEMNET ambassador made such a difference to them - more people should do this" #GenderInSTEM
Derek Langley. "Quote from #OurTinyWorld at @LatitudeFest "Now I understand it! Why don't they teach it that way at school?" #STEMNETWORKS"
“[STEM Ambassadors] provide such a great opportunity for young people like us, teaching us to be open-minded, when we see something that we might consider doing for the rest of our lives we want to research it more.“ - Y9/S2 pupil
“I am now pursuing a career in Mechanical Engineering through an Engineering Science degree at Oxford University. I could hardly imagine this when I arrived at secondary school as an 11 year old! The level of opportunities available at Parmiter's, particularly EAST Club run by Dr Jasbir Lota, Head of STEM, in the Science Department, dispelled the myth that science based subjects were dull. I will never forget experiments like creating ‘elephant toothpaste' and hand held ‘balls of fire', definitely not to be repeated at home…”
Rhiannon Heard, Mechanical Engineering Student at Oxford University
As a result of the funding to support delivery of STEMNET's programmes, teachers gain access to new ideas and resources to support their teaching of STEM subjects. STEM Clubs and our STEM Ambassadors inject new perspective and creativity into science, technology and maths lessons.
The NFER report found that impactful STEM activities in schools would have been much more difficult and time-consuming to achieve without engagement with STEMNET's programmes. Just over half of teachers reported that they had experienced challenges in the wider delivery of STEM enrichment and enhancement activities in their schools. A lack of time was the most widespread challenge faced by schools, so the extra resource of STEM Ambassadors can be a huge help.
The increase in the provision of STEM enrichment and enhancement activities, resulting from STEMNET programmes, has given STEM an enhanced profile within UK schools. All schools taking part in the NFER research said they feel that STEMNET's involvement has been of great benefit.
On a personal level, STEM Clubs and other activities give teachers continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities. It has also been shown that teachers feel more motivated to teach their STEM subject as a result of their involvement in STEMNET's programmes, as they are inspired by new ideas and the real-life application of subjects.
STEM Club leaders value opportunities to take a more creative and informal approach to teaching their STEM subject.
Sarah Pitt @PittWayland Me and Ms Martins had great meeting today with @STEMNET ambassador Charlotte, excited to start working with her, #freshideas #links
Struan Campbell @stewsurf Went to Canons High School for a @STEMNETLondon networking event. Great examples of STEM teaching. #STEMNETWORKS
“I have used their website, it's fantastic ... because you can see what other people are doing .... and it's difficult to come up with ideas... That's where it's been the most useful – ideas of projects that we can use in school for the appropriate age group. - Classroom Teacher (NFER)”
“Quite often teachers will phone us up and ask us to send them a lecture on a particular subject. It's a tremendous relationship and I think the teachers really appreciate that. - STEM Employer (NFER)”
#STEMNETWORKS so well because it brings STEM to life. Through an array of activities limited only by the imagination, STEM Ambassadors and school teachers can use STEMNET's support to find new and exciting ways of enthusing and informing young people.
Activities are designed to make learning fun, encourage collaboration and self confidence, and to enable young people to make informed choices about their future.
STEMNET programmes are built on the generosity and dedication of a huge network of individuals and organisations. STEMNET gratefully receives funding from the Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills (BIS), the Department for Education and The Gatsby Charitable Foundation, but we also couldn't exist without the thousands of volunteers and their employers up and down the country that pledge their time to supporting our programmes.
GlaxoSmithKline provided a Careers Fair at one of its sites for 100 local GCSE students and teachers. The fair was designed to educate and inspire students on the types of careers the pharmaceutical industry can offer, and incorporated workshops, speed networking and exhibition stalls from all areas across the company.
More than 330 GE employees volunteer as STEM Ambassadors and they run a number of programmes. Through GirlsGetSET, GE engineers work with girls in schools near their sites. Events include in-school visits introducing different engineering disciplines, design challenges such as making an aircraft at Fleet Air Arm Museum and a day long competition at GE businesses, including a site tour to see the engineers in action. Older girls participate in industry visits, mentor relationships and work experience opportunities, along with advice on apprenticeships, university applications and contacts with the industry.
Video: Science Projects (Redmoor High School, Leicestershire) - interviews with students and teachers, a summary of club benefits.
One school took part in the STEM Internship Programme in which twelve students were mentored by STEM Ambassadors for one year during which time they completed research challenges and work placements - the feedback about this programme was extremely positive and the students involved felt that it had benefited them in relation to job applications and understanding their future career options (NFER report).
A secondary school in Nottingham held a speed networking session as part of the ‘options evening', bringing in volunteers from local businesses as well as 15 STEM Ambassadors. Each student and their parents spent 5 minutes talking to a business person before moving on to the next STEM professional. The evening was designed to be exciting and lively and change lots of pupils' and families' minds about working in STEM. (NFER report)
STEM engagement has taken place across a number of departments at Wellsway School; Design & Technology, Science and Careers departments have all arranged events over the past academic year. Science hosted lunchtime STEM Ambassador visits during National Science & Engineering Week in March and Ambassadors have been involved in a number of careers events including mock interviews. The DT department has been working with local industry to use their 3D printer and also successfully applied for a grant from the Institution of Engineering & Technology to run a feeder primary DT project.
Life Skills - interviews with students about how STEM activities help
Alasdair Taylor @AWTaylor83 Enjoyed my first @STEMNET ambassador role as a dragon judging some excellent product ideas. Thx to @notts_stem @EastLeakeAC #scicomm
Alasdair Taylor @AWTaylor83 Ideas ranged from super-fast trains for the future to a glass/bottle holder to help waiters #futureisbright #STEMNETWORKS
DJ Adams @qmacro Off to @ReddishValeTC this morning as a @STEMNET Ambassador: Maths puzzles in Scratch, remote sensors and talking about IT careers.
Elizabeth Orchard, Civil Engineer, Peter Brett Associates LLP.
"Over the past three years I have developed a STEM Ambassador group within my organisation that now has around 10% of all employees involved around the country." Elizabeth would eventually like STEM Ambassador registration to be introduced into the induction process for all new employees in relevant roles. Her passion for educating students and teachers about the types of STEM careers available has also led her to a new opportunity – helping to develop the employability skills students will need to get jobs by helping to design the curriculum. She is providing guidance about the kinds of skills employers want, and need, from new recruits. "Helping to design a brand new curriculum feels like the ultimate engagement with STEM education."
Derek Langley, Product Manager at Thales.
Derek transports young people on a fascinating and inspiring journey around the planets in his Our Tiny World astronomy workshops. As well as running these in schools, he has even staged his workshops at the popular Latitude Festival, and it went down a storm. Derek: "Being a STEM Ambassador is probably the most satisfying aspect of my career. If anyone is even wondering if it's for them I'd definitely recommend getting in touch with STEMNET or at least checking out the website. Inspiring kids for the future is the pinnacle of what's possible and it's tremendous fun too!"
John Arnold, STEM Ambassador in training.
Laura Harvey, BT technician apprentice
"When I heard what STEM Ambassadors were, I was really keen to get involved and take up opportunities to raise the profile of apprenticeships amongst students making career choices.
"It can be difficult to get careers advice if you're not sure of the specific job you want to do – it's good for young people to realise there are alternatives to going to university, and I thoroughly enjoy helping to run events at schools and encouraging the students to explore their own potential in areas they may not have considered before."
LinkedIn: "One of my 5 year olds asked Father Christmas for a lab coat and a six year old has told her mum she wants to be a scientist just like me when she grows up. It's just so rewarding!" - STEM Ambassador
SixteenSouth @sixteensouth: @STEMNET We got involved in #STEM because we're mostly all parents and if we don't share with the next generation, who will?
What do we get out of #STEM - it's not about us - it's about giving back. Love seeing kids realise that they can have a FUN career!
Whilst it is essential for us to have the skills, enthusiasm and expertise of individual volunteers, the support of their employers in allowing them the time to engage with young people is just as critical. Around 3,000 employers, large and small, are already involved through the STEM Ambassadors Programme, with many more supporting in other ways.
Qinetiq group. "#QinetiQ helped over 60 Herefordshire and Worcestershire students learn about cyber security at Uni of Worcester earlier this month. #STEMNET"
Matthew Bell @MattBell_ADSK: Lots of love out there for @STEMNET and the Ambassador programme.
Laura Harvey @M155RVY: Thanks #BT for giving us apprentices the opportunity to volunteer with @STEMNET #STEMAmbassadors #getinvolved ##STEMNETWORKS
"Quite often in the UK, I feel the schools tend to go for careers like marketing and law, and not enough attention given to engineering and science... that was my main driver for doing it." - STEM Employer (NFER report)
"When I was young I had some good advice and guidance from somebody who got me started and skilled to train as an engineer, and I always think back to that. If I can do that for someone else then it's worth doing." - STEM Employer (NFER report)
"For too long there seems to have been a disconnection between the skills students learn in the classroom and what employers need for their business. Industry is constantly changing and it's our responsibility to collaborate with academia to provide real-world context for what's being taught to the future workforce." - Peter Brett Associates LLP
"These findings highlight what our employee volunteers see when they go into schools; just how positively children and young people engage with science when they get the opportunity to see its impact first-hand. AstraZeneca has supported the STEM Ambassador Programme since it was launched. It provides huge value to us in helping to encourage the next generation of scientists who may one day work in our labs. The scheme also offers real value to society as a whole by creating enthusiasm in science and its application." Susan Galbraith, Head of Oncology iMed, AstraZeneca
"We've been very successful recruiting [students] from a lot of secondary schools and from the colleges as well. There's definitely a big impact there in terms of recruiting the right people in at a young age. So it's a great benefit - STEM Employer" (NFER report)
"Good for the company; good for the volunteers; and most importantly good for the young people supported by these volunteers" Ian Duffy, Community Development Manager, BP
Working with STEMNET and the STEM Ambassador programme, ST Robotics developed and financed a programme of robotics-based activities for local schools called GOFORTH. "As a small local employer, the STEM Ambassador Programme has provided a great platform for ST Robotics to connect with the community and help students in the area to realise their potential in STEM careers. STEMNET is opening a great door for enthusiastic children and ST Robotics is happy that to be part of that." Geena Chacko, Applications Engineer at ST Robotics and GOFORTH Technical Manager
Over three years, Thales UK's research and technology centre in Reading has worked in partnership with a small group of primary and secondary schools leading to a work experience programme, careers activities, workshops and special events and support in the classroom for ICT, Maths and Physics lessons.
STEMNET is extremely proud of the achievements of all of its programmes, as reflected in the NFER evaluation findings.
We have established successful programmes and we are a trusted partner, with tested and proven operating models. Our relationship with educators and business is unique: over 90% of all UK secondary schools (that's nearly 4,000 schools) have accessed our programmes and our 26,000 STEM Ambassadors represent thousands of employers.
It is important that STEMNET learns from the evaluation report to develop and increase the impact that it has on young people, teachers, employers and its volunteer STEM Ambassadors.
We also listen to our partners, schools, business and government and we believe that we can help and support them to meet their objectives for STEM.
"I would say that any opportunity to develop those STEM related skills in young learners which are going to help them to succeed in the world of tomorrow ought to be taken up. This is an opportunity to build confidence, skills, awareness and aspirations of what they can do in the future… I would absolutely recommend STEMNET programmes without a shadow of a doubt."
Head of Department (NFER report)
"Youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, so now more than ever, business, government and the education community must work together to ensure young people learn what they need, for a better job and a better life….This means considering the skills and knowledge that young people need to compete on an international level. We share an ambition to ensure that the qualifications and skills people acquire at school, college, university or in work are truly world class, and globally benchmarked."
Rod Bristow, President of Pearson UK in a CBI press release, June 2013
Stemnet says:
Repeated research highlights issues of school and college leavers, and undergraduates who lack fundamental workplace skills, alongside the appropriate level of STEM knowledge. We know that face-to-face involvement with STEM Ambassadors in schools by students' undertaking practical world-of-work STEM activities has been proven to enhance employability skills. We can see that by working even more closely with employers or employer organisations, we could open up opportunities for industries or sectors to tailor engagement programmes to support STEM employment prospects and future sector skills requirements.
"Both the quality and quantity of talent is dependent on a variety of factors, including educational attainment, timely and impartial careers advice, the take-up of STEM subjects and improving the relationship between local businesses and schools, further education colleges (FEs) and higher education institutions (HEIs). All have a key role to play in nurturing this pipeline and delivering the workforce of tomorrow that is needed to compete with the best the world can offer."
'Skills for Growth A more productive and flexible Labour force' EEF, November 2012
Stemnet says:
STEMNET recognises that many employers would like to engage with schools and colleges, but are often unsure how to start or do not have the in-house capacity to make appropriate connections. By understanding the skills needs of employers, STEMNET can facilitate working with young people to provide opportunities for them to develop in key areas. Collaborative projects that bring industry and education together, whilst giving students practical experience of the world of work, are essential. STEMNET's UK-wide reach means that it is ideally placed to work closely with more employers to develop practical solutions which address the skills shortage.
"By the age of 10 or 11 a significant proportion of pupils have already decided that the idea of studying science after the age of 16 and the idea of a career in a STEM area is ‘not for me'……The ASPIRES project found little understanding among young people and their families of the fact that science and mathematics can open the door to a wide range of occupations and careers – or that STEM fields are predicted to grow in importance. …...The implication is that any attempts to increase rates of participation in STEM need to start early."
‘What influences participation in science and mathematics?' TISME briefing paper 2013
Stemnet says:
STEMNET has a UK-wide network of experts who provide tailored, impartial and free advice to secondary schools covering STEM activities, resources, funding, competitions and events. It's a model which works and is valued by teachers. We feel that STEMNET is well-placed to further enhance its role as a facilitator of STEM education activities. We recently undertook a very successful pilot scheme to provide STEM Ambassadors to Higher Education Institutes to determine how the students benefited from learning about real life careers and roles in STEM and the world of work. Whilst we aren't funded to proactively work with primary schools, our STEM Ambassadors do try and meet requests for this age group and we would like to be able to develop STEMNET as an established and accepted route for primary schools to engage with STEM careers. We believe that it is never too early or too late for young people to meet inspirational role models and we are constantly looking for ways that we can bring value and benefit to young people, regardless of age, background or previous educational attainment.
"It is vitally important that young people have access to information on the full range of career pathways available so they can make informed choices about their next steps. Our findings show that too few schools are doing enough to ensure all their students receive comprehensive advice about the breadth of career opportunities available to them. 'It is worrying that the new arrangements are failing to provide good guidance or to promote vocational training options and apprenticeships. Given the high levels of youth unemployment, even amongst graduates, it is important the Government, schools, local authorities and other agencies all work to improve the quality of careers advice in schools."
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, September 2013
Stemnet says:
Schools have to deliver a range of programmes and meet targets including the new statutory duty on schools to provide careers. STEMNET knows that many teachers have little or no first-hand knowledge of STEM business to impart to their students. The evaluation report clearly shows that 86% of teachers report an increased awareness of STEM career and employment options thanks to a STEM Ambassador or STEM Club. We'd like to see this figure go even higher and STEMNET can help to bridge the gap, by looking at new ways of working such as developing a support programme for teachers and helping them to connect with STEM employers. STEMNET could also deploy a specific STEM Ambassador cohort of apprentices and technicians to support non-degree access to STEM careers.
"A key factor influencing children's aspirations is what we have called the availability of ‘science capital' among pupils and their families. Science capital refers to science-related qualifications, interest, understanding (‘scientific literacy') and social contacts (for example knowing people who work in STEM- related jobs). Our evidence shows that the more science capital a family has, the more likely a child is to express interest in science as a career and/or aspire to wish to study science further."
‘What influences participation in science and mathematics?' TISME briefing paper 2013
Stemnet says:
STEM Clubs have been proven to be phenomenally successful in schools and we feel that there is huge scope to offer all young people the STEM Club concept, even outside of traditional education establishments. We believe that all young people can benefit from informal STEM learning and we would be keen to talk to other organisations such as youth clubs, community groups or established networks such as the Girl Guides, to see if this could be delivered. An expanded STEM Clubs programme could be accompanied by the design of bespoke resources specifically for use within the Club environment, working with partners in business to develop STEM Challenges, to provide competitive activities which stimulating and fascinating STEM activities for young people and meet business or corporate objectives.
